Welcome to the Church of Saint Matthew, a faith-filled community located in Tolland, Connecticut. We are a Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich.

We extend a warm welcome to all who attend our church.  We hope that you will find our parish community a place where your life of faith will be nourished.  We also hope that you will share your special talents within the community.

Your prayers, your presence and your talents are most welcome.  Please introduce yourself after Mass.

May God bless all of us.

My Dear Friends in Christ:

I encourage you to read Bishop Cote’s pastoral letter on immigrants in this weekend’s bulletin. He is reviewing the importance of the immigration issue facing our country. Congress is ready to take up the debate on immigration reform and Bishop Cote is asking us to let our voices be heard. Parishes in our Diocese and around the country are involved in a national postcard campaign being initiated by the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration. Although the Bishop’s letter mention’s this weekend (Feb.6/7) as “sign-up weekend,” because of other commitments we will be doing it next weekend (Feb. 13/14). The purpose of these postcards is to contact our legislators to encourage them to work for comprehensive immigration reform.

Why does the Church care about immigration policies? Because it has always held a strong interest on how public policy affects immigrants seeking a new life in the U. S. The Church feels compelled to raise a voice on behalf of those who are marginalized and whose God-given rights are not respected. It believes that current laws and policies often lead to the undermining of immigrants’ human dignity and have kept families apart.

Does the Catholic Church support illegal immigration? The Catholic Church does not condone unlawful entry or circumventions of our nation’s immigration laws. The bishops believe that reforms are necessary in order for our nation’s immigration system to respond to the realities of separated families and labor demands that compel people to immigrate to the U. S., whether in an authorized or unauthorized fashion.

Does the Catholic Church support “amnesty?” The Catholic bishops are proposing an earned legalization for those in this country in an unauthorized status and who have built up equities and are otherwise admissible. “Amnesty” implies a pardon and a reward for those who did not obey immigration laws, creating inequities for those who wait for legal entry. The bishops’ proposal is not an “amnesty.”

For more detailed information on the Catholic Church’s position on the immigration issue log onto www.justiceforimmigrants.org. You may send in your postcard messages to your legislators electronically at this site.

Sincerely,

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous.”- 1 Corinthians 13:4

Are you jealous? Do you focus on the things that other people have than on the gifts that God has given to you? Are you pompous? Do you seek to acquire more possessions to impress others? At times we are all guilty of these human weaknesses. Yet as stewards we are called to love God above all other things, striving always to be less jealous, less pompous and more giving.

St. Matthew Preschool will be accepting applications for our 3 and 4 year old program for the 2010-2011 school year from Parish Members only beginning Monday, December 7. Open registration for non parish members will begin in January. Spots for the preschool are filled on a first come first served basis.

Please click here for more information or contact AnnMarie Galdau at 872-0200 ext. 357 or by email at Preschool.

St. Matthew Children's Thrift Shop

START SPREADING THE NEWS… Our new Children’s Thrift Shop located in the old Parish Office on the Dunn Hill Road side is open for business on Saturdays from 9am-1pm. The finest “togs” are available, thanks to the generous donations received.

We would like to have a First Communion corner in our thrift shop. If you have a Communion dress, veil, tie, sports jacket, etc. that your child has outgrown, please donate it! Thanks!

Donations of children’s clothing and hangers still graciously accepted!

Please call Billie at (860) 871-0260 with any questions.

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For the immediate and desperate needs of the people of Haiti, direct donations can be made online, by mail or by phone to either the Haitian Ministries for the Diocese of Norwich or to Catholic Relief Services by clicking one of the buttons below:



For donations directly through St. Matthew to St. Pierre Parish and School, please click the link below and choose "Haiti Fund":


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Feb. 3, 2010

The Haitian Ministries team is still on the ground in Haiti and are expected back shortly. They have been logging on to the web site and giving daily updates. Check them out at www.haitianministries.org. There is a reporter and a photographer from The New London Day with them and they have posted some wonderful articles and photos. You will find a link to The Day at the above web site. We hope when they return to have more news about St. Pierre Parish in Ganthier. In the meantime, please keep them in your prayers and the people of Haiti as well.

Ongoing donations will be graciously received. Special envelopes are located on our windowsills, or make direct donations using the links above.

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Statement of the Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, Bishop of Norwich, on the January 12, 2010, Earthquake in Haiti.
“Our prayers tonight are with our brothers and sisters in Haiti who are in harm’s way of the major earthquake that has hit close to Port au Prince. As we work to learn more through the night of their plight, we hope to make contact with our diocesan mission house, the Norwich Mission House in Petionville, -- and Hospice St. Joseph in Port au Prince.....our life lines to the Island. The Diocese has been on the ground in Haiti faithfully helping the good people of this impoverished Country for over 25 years. We care deeply about their struggle. We are a united family in that concern as we face this disaster. The people of Haiti need our help...and the help of more and more people in our compassionate Country through this time and through the long road to recovery. May God watch over and bring strength to those suffering and those answering the call to help."
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Prayer
God of all creation, as we weep with our family in Haiti, console us. In this time of crisis, open our eyes to look beyond the disaster to see Christ in our brothers and sisters in Haiti, as Christ sees us. Be with us as we stand in solidarity with those living and working in Haiti. Be with us in our mourning and guide our efforts to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, comfort the grieving and stand for justice. With your mercy, sustain us at this time as we continue to work for peace and justice. Amen.

For our Brothers and Sisters in Haiti Affected by the Earthquake
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the Haitian people, that help comes to them quickly and comfort comes to those who hurt.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the lost or buried, that they are found and reunited with their loved ones.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the relief workers, that they have the tools they need, the courage and the strength to respond fully.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the families in Haiti and in the United States who are waiting to hear from loved one, that good news comes to them.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For those whose who have perished, may their souls rest with you, oh Lord, where they will find eternal love. Amen.

Help a Child in Haiti
The St. Matthew Underwriting Campaign for Haiti Mission gives parishioners the opportunity to help a child go to school. Parishioners who would like to support our mission to St. Pierre School in Ganthier may pick up a flyer on our windowsills or at the entrance to the Parish Center, or download a contribution form here. While these are tough economic times in our country, many children in Haiti have no opportunity for an education and don’t know where their next meal will come from. Help us help them! Now!!

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